The Filling Station opens in West Haverstraw: Dining Scene

Rockland County has a new place to fuel up — not on gas, but on organic burgers, 100-percent beef hot dogs in natural casing, hand-cut fries, ice cream and craft beer.

The Filling Station opened Aug. 25, in front of the Samsondale Plaza and near the Department of Motor Vehicles office in West Haverstraw. It’s an expanded, 44-seat version of the first TFS, as it’s commonly called, in Palisades. Guests can look through the open-concept kitchen as they order at the counter, receive a buzzer and pick up their meals when the buzzer sounds.

The location was originally a gas station, possibly Mobil, but it’s been several fast-casual restaurants since then. Owner Steve Galanis tore away those incarnations to reveal the old gas station look, featuring two garage doors, a recycled tin ceiling and wood from a barn.

While refueling, diners might want to save room in the tank for the salted caramel pretzel ice cream or the Nuts & Bolts custom blend from Jane’s Ice Cream in Kingston.

“Everything is locally sourced. Even our milk comes from Hudson Valley,” Stasinopoulos says. “Our employees are all from Haverstraw or right nearby too. We built this for the local people, and the welcoming we’ve got in this community is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before.”

Stasinopoulos has been working in the field for about 15 years. “It’s surreal, and I mean that in a great way.”

The craft beers were brewed mostly in New York, but if not, the Northeast, such as Maine. Stasinopoulos’ favorite beer to pair with a TFS burger – a burger in which the grilled onions and mushrooms are infused into the meat patty while cooking – is an Empire Amber Ale, crafted in Syracuse.

And ask for a side of truffle aoli for those hand-cut fries.

“We’re fancy like that sometimes,” Stasinopoulos says with a laugh.

The Filling Station is at 45 S. Route 9w, West Haverstraw. Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Call 845-786-9000 or visit tfsburgerworks.com for more information.